Surgical skills and lessons from other vocations: a personal view

Formerly, a few lucky trainees, attached to talented masters* keen to teach, derived excellent, well-rounded training - but many others struggled alone. Now, formal courses allow experts to teach simple, safe methods, often using simulations. Courses are usually delivered as modules - each unit designed to provide an assessable competence. Simulations are, however, imperfect substitutes for living tissues. Such courses are aids, not substitutes, for operative experience - but this, for many irreversible reasons, is restricted. Successful operators in all specialties and all countries, have in common the combination of good judgement, commitment, intimate knowledge of anatomy and pathology, together with technical skills that are more easily recognised than described. We need to identify good trainers and relieve them of commitments that reduce their ability to pass on their skills. As a trainee, try to identify and copy their characteristics. This advice comes not from a gifted surgeon but from one fortunate to have worked with, and watched, surgical masters - and who is still privileged to teach.